Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-12-23
rThe Right of Translation is Reserved
.rys y l. AN EvENTFUL STORY.

r,EkPTER XLVII-THE r. w, f. REGIMENT
This accession Of company filed Dicl
with some CONSERVATION and dismay
Unused, as jet, to say discipline snc
uudete--ed by the presence or authority O.
Sergeant Hawksley, the recruits were
noisy, and as rough and brutal in manner
snd language as any street Arabs could
well be, and, like TOO much OF the
material that now swell our ranks, they
we're not from the agricultural districts
but from the recesses Of London-that
city of the slums-snd in their dilapi-
dated attire, like their general aspect
betokened an early struggle with work
crime and misery.
Dick was instantly eyed over as 8
victim to fleece or torment in some
fashion, but to sundry unmistakable
hints, as to how glad they would be "to
drink his jolly good 'ealth," he could
make no response.
However, some had little money
among them, and early though the hour,
they proceeded, as they phrased ii, "to
LIQUOR up and have another wet" as they
were nearly all the result of the public
house and street corner system OF re-
cruiting-not of the good old and now
forgotten system of "besting up" with
drum and fife.
They perched their dirty persons on the
tables IS freely as they did on the rickety
chairs, with pots Of Indifferent beer, adul-
terated stout or glasses of "dOg's nose"
before them, with foul clay pipes stuck
between their teeth, smoking Industrious
" thereet and still more fouling the at
mospheIe with the odor Of course tobec-
CO; some singing, some swearing, and all
disposed TO Chaff each other in rough and
unsavory terms-so we must hasten over
this portion of our story.
Whether Corporal Gutters-baptised
Albert Edward, for the snobs Of humble
life initiate those of the higher circle in
the love of grand names-slso OF her Ma
jesty's T. 4. W. T. L. W. o. regiment,
was non-commissioned officer of the
new school, we do not pretend to
say, but only know, that though
barely twenty and past the pacing
stick, he was finished scamp
ana tyrant, who, after being wanted by
the police under several aliases in his ma
tive Whitechapel, had Joined the corps as
"lardWell recruit"
Cadaverous in visage, ne was sandy
haired, snd like an old boy or premature
man. His upper lip, though of great
length, was, like his acutely receding
chm, hairless, and would probably ever
be so. His cunning eyes were OF watery
grey, swollen and protruding like those Of
q pug dog, which he strongly resembled.
he had neither been well developed nor
well nourished, and his ill-shapen legs
were thickest st the ankles, and for q
time past he had been fleeing the "JOhn-
ME Raws" by the ''Three Card Trick" in
which he excelled, with other London
street accomplishments.
He speedily fastened on Dick.
"Who's precious cur is this?" he asked,
snatching up Bingo-who, scared by the
general noise and row, had kept close
under his masters chair-by the nape of
the neck, and swinging the poor animal
about in 8 way the latter seemed well dis
posed to resist with his teeth.
"Put down the dog, you fellow!" cried
Dick, filed with wrath and alarm.
"Fellowl Who do you call that. you
id young wasp? Your cur, is it?" said
the corporal, laughing, though insolent
and irate. alt is clean agin the Queens
roofs and regulations for recruits to
have dawgs, and I'll toss this 'un into
the Glynne with stone at its neck"
faint 'arf bad 'un," interposed an
other warrior of the Whitechapel type;
she's worth 8 flyer at least. Suppose,
lads, we get flyer on this 'ere dawg, and
has some Jolly drinks all roun6?"
This proposal was greeted witha storm
of applause and much clanking of batter
ed pots upon the sloppy tables.
Gall right" said the STRIPPING corporal,
az knows party at the Marlboro Arms
as will give US the money"
Swelling with rage and alarm, Dick,
who had started to his feet on this,
said
"Set down my dog, you insolent ras-
cal"
"He's msd-he is," said the corporal,
to his companions. "Does
you know who you're a-speakin' to-" he
asked of Dick, while his grasp on the
terrier frightened.
"Do you know who you are speaking
tor" said Dick.
"BIest if do, or care"
swell, sm gentleman"
This assertion was greeted, after the |
silence of s moment or two, with roar
of laughter that was certainly genuine, |
and much doffing in mOckery of half-bul- |
let hats; but this only added to the exas
perstion of Dick, who, before Sergeant |
Hswksley could interfere, started for
ward and confronted the dog-stealer, for
such he considered him, amid cries Of
"Here's rum go!"
ga gents gent-oh, what lark"
And much more to the same purpose.
"Stand back, you id young muf,"
said the Corporal, "or I'll knock your |
two senguinary eyes into one!"
1.-TWO may play at that game" cried |
Dick, who was 8 fearless little gentle |
man. and clenching his fists in way that
Reggie mad taught him, he rushed on Gut
tiers and dealt him in quick succession 8
couple OF blows that, while nearly knock |
ing him do VI, compelled him to release
the dog and stand on his own defense.
-aThis Is hout and nout mutiny," ne
lied with q fierce and filthy oath, and
was rSsstne On Dick, who must eventu-
ally have had the worst OF the brawl,
when the strong hand OF the sergeant ar
rested him. "Let me CO." cried Cutters,
choking with rage; "Vll-I'll murder the
young willsn!"
"Eo you won't-he may hand you over
TO the police for dog stealing, and 1t won't
be the first time, perhaps-silence; Or
der you to be quiet" said the sergeant,
sternly, and the bully fell back abashed.
But Dick had received several side
blows from others who resented, perhaps.
the responsibility Of his appearance, and
more than all, the inopportune assertion